Can Meal Replacements Help with Weight Loss?

Many people want to lose weight. However, a very high percentage of people want to lose weight but just don't have the time to stick to a diet plan or exercise regularly. Who can blame them? With ever increasing work and family pressures, most of us just don't have any time to include anything else in our busy schedules. So, of course working on a weight loss plan is difficult. This is where meal replacements can be really useful.

Meal replacements are usually sold in the form of weight loss shakes. Other products include protein bars, cereal bars, and cereals. So, should you or should you not go for meal replacements? Here are three reasons why you should go for meal replacements for weight loss.

May help get rid of compulsive eating

Many obese people are compulsive eaters. While there is definitely an emotional aspect to this behavior, much can be done here to help people with food addiction. Meal replacements are quite filling in nature. So, they do tend to suppress hunger and improve satiety. This means that one weight loss shake can keep you off those sugary foods for quite sometime since you won't feel hungry until it is time for your next meal.

Makes portion control easy

Portion control is one of the biggest hassles for any successful weight loss program. People find it difficult to weigh and measure foods. Just imagine, you have to consider how many calories are there in a meat portion. How many of it is coming from the oil you used. How many calories from the flavors that you added to your food? How many calories did you consume when you ate that pizza on the way home?

Yes, it is difficult. Meal replacements take away the hassle of portion and calorie control. Most replacement products provide you 150 to 500 calories. So, you know what you are eating. No need to do any calculations based on a diet plan.

Gets you the essential nutrients

Most meal replacement products are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. So, just by replacing your usual meals, you won't be missing out on any nutrients. In fact, if a meal replacement product does not contain vitamins and minerals, you should probably not be using it. A good meal replacement will provide you with a good dose of most of the vitamins along with minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

Besides this, most meal replacement programs suggest eating at least one meal a day. So, you do get to enjoy your regular meals every day too. In an effort to promote rapid weight loss, some people skip that one meal a day too. However, that may not be a good idea since it can affect your overall health and interfere in your weight loss efforts.

Simply said, meal replacements can play an effective role in a weight loss plan. While it may not be a good idea to use it for a long period of time, these products can really be useful in the short-term.